Screen Lock Security Hole Discovered in iOS 4.1

Humberto Saabedra

A new security hole has been discovered in Apple iOS 4.1 whereby the device’s lock screen can be bypassed to make phone calls. From a locked iPhone pressing the “Emergency Call” button, dialing a non-emergency number then pressing “Send” followed by the iPhone’s lock key will force the device into the “Phone” application. From there, favorites, contacts, the dial pad, recent calls, and voicemails can be accessed. The “home” button remains inactive, preventing jumping to the home screen while using the “contacts” tab, selecting a contact, and clicking “Email” or “Share contact” will allow sending of emails and MMS messages. Apple has yet to respond to the discovery.

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Journalist since 2006, initially covering the retail wireless sector before pivoting to anime and manga trade reporting in 2008. Founder and publisher of AnimeNews.biz (2008–2017), followed by a 13-year tenure at Crunchyroll News (2011–2024) and launching K-Comics Beat with Comics Beat in 2024. Now stripping away consumer noise to build independent, data-backed intelligence desks focused on cross-border licensing telemetry, production committee balance sheets, and industrial supply-chain forensics.

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